Vancouver - An Off Peak Destination to Visit

Spring is typically the low and shoulder season for Vancouver, but this year is an especially sweet time to head to British Columbia because of the Winter Olympics, which end on February 28. Host cities typically suffer from post-Olympic syndrome, when would-be visitors avoid the area because they believe it is too expensive or too crowded. But savvy travelers can find plenty of deals for Vancouver (and even for nearby Whistler, which is in high season through March.

Happenings in Vancouver this spring include the Vancouver International Biennale, a free, open-air art event that lasts through June 30, 2011. International Dance Day will be celebrated on April 29 in Vancouver, and free events such as a flamenco dance class and hula-hooping lessons make the event an entertainment bargain.

There's so much to see and do in Vancouver and Contrino Travel can help you decide, making it a great destination to visit.

Euro to US$Ratio Improves Greatly

Planning a trip to Europe? Now's the time to start planning with Contrino Travel. For every Euro, the current exchange rate to U.S. dollars is 1.36. It has been reduced dramatically.

Royal Caribbean Lauches Online Dining Reservations

Contrino Travel reports that Royal Caribbean International is launching Daily Reservations, an online reservation system for guests enrolled in the My Time Dining program. Through Daily Reservations, My Time Dining guests can make nightly reservations in the main dining room for themselves and guests at their table. Guests can access, request and review their Daily Reservations in advance of their sailing through the Pre-Cruise Planner or Cruise Enhancements section of www.RoyalCaribbean.com. Daily Reservations is currently available for Oasis of the Seas sailings and will be deployed fleetwide throughout the spring.


Dinner reservations can be requested for a table for two to 10. Guests can request reservations for the same time with the same people nightly or a different time every evening with different companions. If a particular time is unavailable, Daily Reservations will suggest an alternative time that is closest to the request. Guests can then review their daily dinner reservation details in a calendar view, as well as request changes.

DR -- A Golfer's Paradise!

Dominican Republic is well known for its great beaches, but one shouldn't discount all it has to offer to golfers. Cap Cana, catering to high end clients and the luxury sector, has it's fair share of golf course offerings too! Contrino Travel has been sending their clients to DR, well before and even after the occurrence of the tragic earthquake in Haiti.

Princess Cruises Brings Back an Old Tradition -- Bon Voyage!

Contrino Travel learned today that Princess Cruises is reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, the opportunity for passengers to have non-sailing friends and family come aboard on embarkation day to wish them a "bon voyage."

The only catch: It'll come with a charge.

The "Bon Voyage Experience," as Princess is calling it, will cost $39 per person.

As Princess notes in an announcement of the program today, friends and family of cruisers once routinely came aboard vessels to see them off, but the practice disappeared more than two decades ago as security procedures tightened.

Celine Dion Returns to Vegas in 2011 !

Celine returns to Caesars Palace beginning March 15, 2011. Tickets for the first 54 shows go on sale this coming Friday. Contrino Travel can assist with your air/land package; however it's still a tad early to do so for next March, given the airline seats haven't become available. FYI--tickets range in price from $55 to $250 per person BEFORE taxes and/or fees.

Norwegian makes the news AGAIN with bigger ships to Bermuda

Norwegian Cruise Lines will sail newer, more elaborate ships to nation of Bermuda starting in 2011.

Norwegian says the two-year-old, 2,400-passenger Norwegian Gem will take the place of the seven-year-old, 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn on its Bermuda run out of New York starting in May of 2011.

The Norwegian Dawn, in turn, will replace the smaller, older Norwegian Spirit on the line's Bermuda run out of Boston.

Currently, NCL is running a promotion with discounted deposits. Contact Contrino Travel for more details.

Norwegian Epic - NCL's newest and biggest

Psssst....OK, so by now you've heard of Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest, the Oasis of the Seas and now all eyes and ears are getting ready for the inaugural of NCL's Epic. It's going to have an ice bar, solo single cabins on decks 10 and 11 and NCL has now partnered with Nickelodeon for the kiddies.

Current promotions ongoing until 3/15 for the year of the Freestyle, providing upgrades and more! Let Contrino Travel travel help you @ 718-761-4846.

Greek Islands- Epitome of Romance

A Greek Islands honeymoon is gaining popularity. Why? Not because it isn't cheap! However, it's easy to island hop from by high speed ferry after arriving in Athens. Both small luxury hotels and the leading hotels of the world are located here. Why not plan your romantic getaway with Contrino Travel today? I wouldn't recommend piecemealing an itineraryyourself as you will get an automatic discount for packaging your air/hotels/ferries/transfers.